Liverpool simply not good enough on a desperate day for Kenny Dalglish:

The owners expected the Champions League, but the return to that particular frontier appears to be distant for even King Kenny to achieve.  Liverpool’s season has experienced distant highs – and may still experience the winning of silverware – but it’s also featured some frustratingly often lows.  Disappointing draws at Anfield against the lesser sides of the league have been papered over by impressive away day victories which have kept Kenny Dalglish’s men ticking over but perhaps their latest blow away from home at Old Trafford has ended all hopes of a return to Europe’s elite.

The events of the day surrounding Luis Suarez and Patrice Evra have unsurprisingly overshadowed the football on offer but when you look a little deeper it’s fair to say Liverpool football club are unable to consistently perform at the level needed to secure European qualification or even more.  On a purely footballing note Liverpool failed to take advantage of a United team which has at times been described as vulnerable.

For the first time in years Dalglish had genuine options heading to Manchester but you can’t help but feel he missed a trick in his team selection.  Stewart Downing was brought in for Craig Bellamy together with the return of Luis Suarez, there was also no room for Charlie Adam and the improving Andy Caroll who were both impressive in the recent win at Molineaux.  Downing in particularly carried on his mediocre form and produced another anonymous performance not worthy of a team aiming so high, his performance would have worried Dalglish and perhaps made him seriously consider how wise it was to splash out on the former Middlesbrough man.

Jordan Henderson and Jose Enrique were the other summer signings in the starting line-up and both produced similarly disappointing performances.  Enrique, it can be argued has performed admirably since his switch from Newcastle – perhaps the ease at which Antonio Valencia outplayed him should be overlooked on this occasion- but Henderson is still yet to settle.  He may have potential but he needs to start repaying the Kop’s faith, the way he was easily outplayed by the Grandad’s of the game Scholes and Giggs was again a cause for concern.

Liverpool lacked any bite and desire to really attack the defense of United, a ploy which would have proved much more profitably rather than inviting United onto them in waves of attacks.  In fact, they never looked remotely liked scoring until the introduction of Bellamy, Adam and Caroll as Liverpool ended the game with the composition they should of begun it in.   They suddenly looked threatening as Caroll fed Luis Suarez with Craig Bellamy buzzing around the two of them.

The game would have given Dalglish plenty of food for thought as he prepares his team for a final push towards fourth place.  Is Jay Spearing really Liverpool class?  Is Stuart Downing a very expensive mistake and what does Jordan Henderson actually do?  These are all nagging questions which will be beginning to devilishly play in the back of the Scot’s mind.

Follow Francis Kerins on twitter FrancisKerins94

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